IP Library › Granted Patent US 12674521
Granted Patent B2
US 12674521 · App. 18/759,800 · Granted Jul 7, 2026

Modular drive system with valve drive modules for assembling a valve drive system

Inventor: Tobias Schellenberger (Kirchardt-Berwangen, DE)
Assignee: HELMUT BAELZ GMBH
F16K31/043
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12674521
App. No.
18/759,800
Granted
Jul 7, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The modular drive system according to the present disclosure, including valve drive modules is used for assembling a valve drive system. The valve drive modules of the modular drive system according to the present disclosure can be variably connected to one another via their module interfaces to form a valve drive system. The module housings of the valve drive modules contain the respective functional units separately from one another, which simplifies the assembly. The modular drive system according to the present disclosure includes comprises an electric drive module with an drive module housing, on the bottom of which a module interface is arranged; and a drive module which can be attached to a valve and which is configured to convert the input-side rotary movement into an output-side movement with which the valve can be actuated, wherein the valve drive modules can be connected to one another via their module interfaces to form a valve drive system.

Claims (32)

1 . A modular drive system comprising valve drive modules for assembling a valve drive system, comprising:

an electric drive module with a drive module housing, on a bottom of which a module interface is arranged;

an actuating module which is attachable to a valve and is configured to convert an input-side rotary movement into an outside movement with which the valve can be actuated,

wherein the valve drive modules are connectable to one another via module interfaces of the valve drive modules to form a valve drive system;

wherein the valve drive modules have at least one spring module with a spring module housing, the spring module housing having a module interface arranged on a top and a bottom of the spring module housing;

wherein the spring module housing of the at least one spring module encloses a spring element accommodated in the at least one spring module;

wherein the spring element is configured to allow a spring torque to act on a connecting shaft in such a way that the connecting shaft is preloaded in a spring direction;

wherein the modular drive system has a plurality of spring modules with uniformly defined spring torques, which can be stacked in such a way that the uniformly defined spring torques act parallel to one another on an input shaft of the actuating module;

further comprising a rotary transmission module with a rotary transmission module housing, the rotary transmission module housing having module interfaces arranged on a top and a bottom of the rotary transmission module housing, the rotary transmission module being configured to convert an input-side rotary movement into an output-side rotary movement, the output-side rotary movement being geared down or geared up to the input-side rotary movement.

2 . The modular drive system according to claim 1 , wherein the valve drive modules each have shaft couplings, with which respective shafts of two valve drive modules of the valve drive modules can be coupled to one another.

3 . The modular drive system according to claim 1 , wherein the module interfaces of the at least one spring module are configured to be connected to module interfaces of other spring modules or to module interfaces of another one of the valve drive modules.

4 . The modular drive system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one spring module comprises a connecting shaft.

5 . The modular drive system according to claim 1 , wherein the module interfaces of the valve drive modules have through-holes, which extend from a top to a bottom of housings of valve drive modules.

6 . The modular drive system according to claim 1 , wherein the module interfaces of the valve drive modules have threaded holes which are arranged on uppers and bottoms of housings of the valve drive modules.

7 . The modular drive system according to claim 1 , further comprising a rotary transmission module with a rotary transmission module housing, the rotary transmission module housing having module interfaces arranged on a top and a bottom of the rotary transmission module housing, the rotary transmission module being configured to convert an input-side rotary movement into an output-side rotary movement, the output-side rotary movement being geared down or geared up to the input-side rotary movement.

8 . The modular drive system according to claim 1 , wherein the valve drive modules of the modular drive system have a linear drive module with a linear drive module housing, linear drive module housing having a module interface arranged on a top of the linear drive module housing, the linear drive module being configured to convert an input-side rotary movement into an output-side stroke movement, with which the valve is actuated.

9 . The modular drive system according to claim 1 , wherein the valve drive modules of the modular drive system comprise a swivel module with a swivel module housing, the swivel module housing having a module interface arranged on a top of the swivel module housing, the swivel module being configured to convert an input-side rotary movement from the top of the swivel module housing into an output-side swivel movement for actuating the valve.

10 . The modular drive system according to claim 1 , wherein dimensions and arrangements of module interfaces provided on uppers and bottoms of housings of the valve drive modules are adapted to one another in such a way that the module interfaces are selectively connectable to one another.

11 . A valve drive system which is assembled from a plurality of valve drive modules of the modular drive system according to claim 1 .

12 . The modular drive system according to claim 1 , wherein the valve drive modules each have shaft couplings, with which shafts of valve drive modules can be coupled to one another.

13 . The modular drive system according to claim 12 , wherein the module interfaces of the at least one spring module can be connected selectively to module interfaces of other spring modules or to module interfaces of another one of the valve drive modules.

14 . The modular drive system according to claim 13 , wherein the spring module housing of the at least one spring module encloses a spring element accommodated in the at least one spring module.

15 . The modular drive system according to claim 14 , wherein the at least one spring module comprises a connecting shaft.

16 . A modular drive system comprising valve drive modules for assembling a valve drive system, comprising:

an electric drive module with a drive module housing, on a bottom of which a module interface is arranged;

an actuating module which is attachable to a valve and is configured to convert an input-side rotary movement into an outside movement with which the valve can be actuated,

wherein the valve drive modules are connectable to one another via module interfaces of the valve drive modules to form a valve drive system;

wherein the valve drive modules have at least one spring module with a spring module housing, the spring module housing having a module interface arranged on a top and a bottom of the spring module housing;

wherein the module interface arranged on the bottom of the spring module housing of one of the valve drive modules is connected to the module interface arranged on the bottom of the spring module housing of another one of the valve drive modules of the modular drive system and, correspondingly, the module interface arranged on the top of the spring module housing of one of the valve drive modules is connectable to the module interface arranged on the top of the spring module housing of other ones of the valve drive modules of the modular drive system in such a way that the at least one spring module is installed upside down.

17 . The modular drive system according to claim 16 , wherein the spring module housing of the at least one spring module encloses a spring element accommodated in the at least one spring module.

18 . The modular drive system according to claim 17 , wherein the spring element is configured to allow a spring torque to act on a connecting shaft in such a way that the connecting shaft is preloaded in a spring direction.

19 . The modular drive system according to claim 18 , wherein the modular drive system has a plurality of spring modules with uniformly defined spring torques, which can be stacked in such a way that the uniformly defined spring torques act parallel to one another on an input shaft of the actuating module.